Srinagar, April 11: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Shah Re Khas Traders and Chambers (SKTC), and the Chamber of Commerce and Industries Kashmir (CCIK) have collectively welcomed Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s launch of the “Drug-Free Jammu & Kashmir” mass movement and the accompanying crackdown on drug traffickers, pledging full support to the administration’s zero-tolerance policy.
In separate statements to Ziraat Times, all three business bodies described the initiative as a decisive and timely intervention to tackle the growing drug menace in the Union Territory, which they said is severely impacting youth, families, and the broader social fabric.
KCCI President Javid Ahmad Tenga termed the campaign a “courageous and decisive action,” noting that drug abuse has reached alarming proportions in the region. Citing Government of India figures, he highlighted that over 13 lakh people in Jammu and Kashmir are affected by drug addiction. “This is not merely a law enforcement issue but a civilizational challenge,” he said, adding that KCCI stands firmly behind the government in this fight.
The Chamber also lauded the punitive measures announced by the Lieutenant Governor, including confiscation of properties belonging to drug traffickers and cancellation of identification documents such as Aadhaar. It urged the business community to play an active role by spreading awareness, supporting rehabilitation efforts, and ensuring that commercial establishments are not misused for drug-related activities.
Meanwhile, the Shah Re Khas Traders and Chambers (SKTC), led by Chairman Bashir Ahmad Kanu, described the administration’s actions as “historic and necessary.” The Chamber welcomed the sweeping measures targeting the financial and civil assets of alleged drug peddlers, including cancellation of passports, driving licenses, and bank accounts.
“The drug epidemic is a cancer eating away at our society,” Kanu said, adding that the government’s strategy of dismantling the financial networks of narco-syndicates addresses the root of the problem. He affirmed that SKTC stands “shoulder-to-shoulder” with the administration in its anti-drug campaign.
Similarly, the Chamber of Commerce and Industries Kashmir (CCIK) hailed the Lieutenant Governor’s announcement of a 100-day “Nasha Mukt Jammu & Kashmir” campaign. CCIK President Tariq Ghani said stringent measures are urgently needed to protect the youth from the growing threat of drug abuse.
Describing the campaign as widely appreciated across the Union Territory and beyond, CCIK assured full cooperation with authorities in implementing the initiative at the grassroots level. The Chamber said it would work across towns and villages to help curb the menace.
CCIK also called upon all sections of society to actively participate in the fight against drugs, emphasizing that the challenge cannot be addressed by the administration alone.
All three organisations expressed confidence that with sustained efforts, strong enforcement, and collective societal support, Jammu and Kashmir can overcome the drug crisis and move towards becoming a drug-free society.
